Full Name
Elizabeth Abunaw
Job Title
Owner/Operator
Company Name
Forty Acres Fresh Market
Speaker Bio
Liz Abunaw is the founder and owner/operator of Forty Acres Fresh Market, a Chicago based grocer launched in January 2018. Alarmed by the lack of fresh food options on Chicago’s west side, after leaving her sales job at Microsoft in November 2017, Liz committed to opening an affordable fresh market with a bountiful selection of produce, meat, grocery staples, and more in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.
Starting with an innovative mobile strategy centered on full-selection pop up produce markets, Liz has grown Forty Acres from idea to a robust business that includes a 10,000 square foot brick and mortar store (opening in 2025).
Since its inception, Forty Acres Fresh Market has serviced thousands of customers throughout the city of Chicago through popup produce markets and residential delivery services. Forty Acres’ impact on food accessibility in Austin has garnered investment from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the USDA Healthy Food Financing Initiative, the American Heart Association Social Impact Fund, Famous Amos Ingredients For Success Initiative, the city of Chicago, State of IL, and other funders.
Prior to launching Forty Acres Fresh Market Liz was a partner manager in Microsoft’s sales division and before that spent ten years at General Mills, Inc. A native of New York state, Abunaw moved to Chicago in 2012 when awarded a full-tuition fellowship to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, from which she graduated in 2014. Liz is a 2002 Cornell University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Policy Analysis and Management. She holds the staunch position that while Chicago deep dish is delicious, it is not pizza. It is casserole. Pizza folds.
Starting with an innovative mobile strategy centered on full-selection pop up produce markets, Liz has grown Forty Acres from idea to a robust business that includes a 10,000 square foot brick and mortar store (opening in 2025).
Since its inception, Forty Acres Fresh Market has serviced thousands of customers throughout the city of Chicago through popup produce markets and residential delivery services. Forty Acres’ impact on food accessibility in Austin has garnered investment from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the USDA Healthy Food Financing Initiative, the American Heart Association Social Impact Fund, Famous Amos Ingredients For Success Initiative, the city of Chicago, State of IL, and other funders.
Prior to launching Forty Acres Fresh Market Liz was a partner manager in Microsoft’s sales division and before that spent ten years at General Mills, Inc. A native of New York state, Abunaw moved to Chicago in 2012 when awarded a full-tuition fellowship to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, from which she graduated in 2014. Liz is a 2002 Cornell University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Policy Analysis and Management. She holds the staunch position that while Chicago deep dish is delicious, it is not pizza. It is casserole. Pizza folds.
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